Comment: The following article appeared in the Cyprus Mail of Nicosia on 16 May 2003

Government slams ‘fanatical’ Denktash views

THE
GOVERNMENT yesterday accused Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash of
repeating himself and said his statements in recent days had been
“fanatical”.

Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides was commenting on statements by
Denktash that by allowing people to cross, the Turkish Cypriot side had
taken the first step towards the result, “which they have been dreaming
of for years”. This result was something that a peace-loving people
wanted to reach by protecting its rights, he said.

Denktash made the comment to a mainland Turkish television station.
Chrysostomides said Denktash’s views were “unacceptable, fanatical and
monolithic” and that the Turkish Cypriot leader had been repeating
himself for decades.

Denktash also told the television station that he was hopeful for
developments. “Those who overturn this proposal, will prove to the whole
world that they don’t want peace on Cyprus,” he said.

He also said Greek Cypriots crossing to the north were able to see
that Turkish Cypriots were not oppressed and that the situation that had
developed was “the model for the future”.

“Exchange of property will be overcome with compensations and
border adjustments will be made,” he said. “If there is willingness in
the Greek Cypriot side, the problem will be solved together. However, we
will not give up our state, sovereignty, equality and guarantee of
Turkey.”

Denktash has repeatedly said that Greek Cypriots should pursue
their property claims through the courts in the north, something the
government finds unacceptable.

Chyrsostomides yesterday called it a “trick” by Denktash and
another avenue for the Turkish Cypriot side to push for recognition.
“Courts in the north that will examine Greek Cypriot applications have
no standing in international law,” he said, adding that it would be
completely illegal and unreasonable for the European Court of Human
Rights or the Council of Europe to accept such applications as legal
under provisions requiring applicants in a dispute to exhaust all
internal means before resorting to Europe.

“This has been studied by the Republic and legal experts and it
would be completely unjustifiable,” he said."